The heir of the promise sacrificed and raised again in figure;
call of the appointed Bride

But on this introduction of the heir, he necessarily becomes the
main subject; and chapter 22 opens with it: "It came to pass
after these things," for, indeed, a new scene now opens. The
heir of the promise is sacrificed and raised again in figure, and
the promise is confirmed to the seed*. The ancient depositary or
form of the covenant (even that of promise), mother of the heir
(Sarah), now disappears. Abraham sends Eliezer, the steward of his
house, to seek a wife for the risen heir, for his only son Isaac,
from the country whither Isaac was not to return -- in the world
such as it is: beautiful figure of the mission of the Holy Spirit,
who, fulfilling His office (after the Lord's death and
resurrection) with the elect of God who are to form the Lamb's wife
in the counsels of God, conducts her (already adorned with His
gifts, but waiting the moment when she shall see Him who is heir of
all things that belong to His Father) across the desert to her
heavenly bridegroom. The call and readiness of the appointed bride
is beautifully depicted, and she goes with him, who prefigures the
Spirit, to the bridegroom who is heir of all. But mark how false
and wretched the position of the espoused wife, if Isaac had lost
his hold upon her heart -- her home in nature left, and she in the
wilderness with one who was nothing to her, if not her guide to
Isaac. The walk of the Spirit, moreover, in man, is depicted in the
most instructive manner in the details of this history, in the
conduct of Eliezer: his simple subjection to what was for him the
word of God even when all seemed well (vers. 21-23);
heart-reference in thankfulness to God the first feeling (ver. 26);
purpose of heart in service (ver. 33), and the like.

* This distinct confirmation to (not in) the seed, is what the
apostle refers to as the one seed, that is Christ. The general
promises as to Israel were of a seed as the stars of heaven for
number. This is the confirmation to the one seed, when risen, of
the promise given in chapter 12.